It's a new year and my resolution is to better understand the challenges facing district leaders in providing effective professional learning for their educators.

Over the next few months, I will be conducting #100DistrictConversations with district leaders across the United States. Through these conversations, I aim to gain deeper insights into their anxieties, hopes, and the biggest barriers they face in providing effective professional learning.

As an educator for many years, I have witnessed firsthand the critical role of high-quality professional learning. Today's classroom educators are challenged to implement new curriculum, address diverse student needs, and integrate innovative technologies while keeping students engaged and on grade level. In order to do all of these things well, teachers need the best professional learning possible.

The essential district function of vetting and securing high quality professional learning has become increasingly difficult. With shrinking budgets and the loss of ESSER funds, district leaders are facing immense pressure to purchase and deliver effective professional learning for hundreds, even thousands, of educators. While money, time and quality are always elusive, professional learning challenges are not necessarily universal.

Districts have highly nuanced and hyperlocal obstacles that limit teacher growth and improvement. I believe that by listening directly to district leaders, we can gain a deeper understanding of their unique needs and develop more effective and impactful solutions.

I plan to share key learnings from these conversations openly, right here on LinkedIn 2-3 times per week. You can join the conversation or follow along for regular updates. If you want to help, you can nominate a district leader to participate in a conversation.

It's 2025 and our district leaders need partners who listen to their needs instead of providing stock solutions that don't work for teachers or the students they serve. I'm excited to better understand and elevate district leader insights while also working to ensure that educators have the training they need to thrive.